Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:		William J. Wagner, President and Chief Executive Officer (814) 726-2140 William W. Harvey, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (814) 726-2140

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. to Present at Sterne Agee Banking Symposium

Warren, Pennsylvania — February 5, 2010

Northwest Bancshares, Inc. (NasdaqGS: NWBI) announced it will participate in the 5^th Annual Sterne Agee Banking Symposium on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 in Orlando, Florida.

Northwest is scheduled to make a presentation at 9:30am EST. The live webcast can be viewed at http://cc.talkpoint.com/snlf001/020910a_ke/?entity=16 8L8DQRG.

Presentation materials will be available on Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s web site at www.northwestsavingsbank.com on Monday, February 8, 2010.

Founded in 1896 and headquartered in Warren, Pennsylvania, Northwest Bancshares, Inc., through its subsidiary Northwest Savings Bank, currently operates 171 community banking locations in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Maryland and Florida. Northwest Savings Bank is a full-service financial institution offering a complete line of retail and business banking products as well as investment management and trust services. The Company also operates 52 consumer finance offices in Pennsylvania through its subsidiary, Northwest Consumer Discount Company. Northwest Bancshares, Inc.’s stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Additional information regarding Northwest Bancshares, Inc. can be accessed on-line at www.northwestsavingsbank.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements — This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition and results of operations of Northwest Bancshares, Inc. including, without limitations, statements relating to the earnings outlook of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements, include among others, the following possibilities: (1) changes in the interest rate environment; (2) competitive pressure among financial services companies; (3) general economic conditions including an increase in non-performing loans that could result from an economic downturn; (4) changes in legislation or regulatory requirements; (5) difficulties in continuing to improve operating efficiencies; (6) difficulties in the integration of acquired businesses; and (7) increased risk associated with an increase in commercial real-estate and business loans and non-performing loans. Management has no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this release.